I was reluctant to write about more about DuBois before I completed his work "The Souls of Black Folk," but there is honestly too much information to process without working out some of my thoughts on paper...
I had never been exposed to DuBois prior to my matriculation to Wofford. I remember hearing his name on occasion throughout high school, and even during my first two years at Wofford, but I had no idea that he was "the" intellectual of the 20th century, at least in my opinion. There are a lot of people that always seem to close when describing the problems of the age, and some of them are capable of providing positive solutions -- Karl Marx, G.W.F. Hegel, just to mention a couple -- but DuBois's combination scholarship and emotional expression far surpasses them all. The impact of his writing is still relevant today, and his ideas, I would argue, have influenced a number of generations, no matter the color of their skin. I have such a profound respect for this individual, and I am elated that I was afforded an opportunity to spend an entire semester learning about his life story -- the good, and the bad. DuBois accomplished a lot during his lifetime -- I am tempted to list his accomplishments, but that could take quite a bit of time, so I will not do so for now -- but what I find most intriguing about his talents was his ability to communicate through the soul, which, a lot times, is a difficult task, it seems, for people with intellectual capabilities like DuBois (DuBois was Harvard educated, receiving a doctorate from this prestigious university, and he also attended the University of Berlin, as well as Fisk University).
I am not sure if I am the one who is unable to detect the pain of expression by different intellectuals, but there always seems to be an emotional disconnect with academic writing. Academics usually discuss those things that are most important to our lives and society, so I need to be able to "feel" what they are saying before I can accept it as truth. The ability to give myself over to the emotions of different authors has improved a great deal since my time at Wofford, so with time, I am sure that I will be better able to understand multiple perspectives from various authors.
My favorite author other than DuBois is Rene Descartes. When I read through his Meditations, for a second time, I literally refused to read anything else, at least for a couple of days. To me, Descartes had described the human condition in a way that was not only compelling but disturbing as well. He exposed the limits of our understanding, in that all we can truly know is "I think, therefore I am." After accepting this maxim as truth, I was convinced that I did not need to learn anything else. All of what I had been seeking for so long had finally been articulated in a way that gave me greater confidence about my own existence; it was a relief needless to say. My soul had been penetrated, and the truth that I seek to find on a daily basis, in a lot of ways, stems from the knowledge I gained from Descartes that he expressed in his Meditations.
I did not believe it was possible for anyone to go deeper than Descartes, but I was sadly mistaken. Whereas Descartes articulated the pain of his own experience, DuBois, in The Souls of Black Folk, articulates the pain of an entire race -- the human race. When reading through DuBois's first essay, I felt as if the entire world was talking to me at the same time. The wisdom of the world was slowly being revealed to me as I continued to turn the pages. I felt the struggle of so many; I understood their pain, their anguish, their sense of loss. I could hear the voices screaming, but I could not respond. I wanted to close the book immediately. So much suffering contained in one voice was unbearable, but I had to read further. I needed to know the extent of the suffering, so that I could better recognize the sacrifice that had been made for me. If I wanted to know why I am the person I am today, I needed to hear the voice of the eternal soul that lies inside of all of us. I was seeking wisdom, what I have previously called "Brain Water." I needed to free my mind by replenishing it with what we all need most, water. And by doing so, I was able to delve deeper into the well of my emotions, actualizing what had been hidden for so long. And even as I type more about my revelation, I begin to feel the burden of millions being lifted by the hands of those who suffered through what I am not trying my very best to understand. It is as if these persons, my ancestors, are living through me, carrying away my fears, worries, and anxieties. I feel at peace with the world, but I am fully aware that such a feat would have not been possible had I not taken time to listen to what so many wanted to say. They are providing me an historical perspective that allows me to gauge their experience. Experience is all that we can know, so know that I have a better understanding of their experiences, I now can articulate my own in a way that is meaning and valuable to others. I believe that we all have this ability, but we must learn to listen and dive deep into the understanding of the eternal soul.
Because of DuBois, I need not be afraid of how deep the water is. I can go as deep as my heart desires. The oxygen that I need is being provided to me by my ancestors, who already fought that the battles, so that I could live. This, to me, is the epitome of the human soul, and now I am better able to understand that because of this wonderfully crafted work of literature. Thank you.
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